Gastromycetes 



Calvatia. Cortex a thin furfuraceous coat, with stout convergent spines above, 

 whitish or gray, becoming yellowish and reddish, after maturity gradually 

 falling away from the upper part; inner peridium thin, submembrana- 

 ceous, pallid or brownish, dehiscent at the apex by an irregular lacerate 

 mouth. Subgleba occupying nearly half the peridium, cup-shaped above 

 and a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, 

 greenish-yellow then brownish-olivaceous ; the threads very long, much 

 branched, the primary branches about as thick as the spores, the ulti- 

 mate ones long, slender and tapering. Spores globose, even, 3.S-4-5/ 4 

 in diameter, with a short or minute pedicel. 



Growing on the ground in fields and pastures. Peridium 2-4 in. in 

 diameter and 3-5 in. in height. I find this species referred to North 

 America in Saccardo's Sylloge. It is Lycoperdon caelatum of Fries S. 

 M. Possibly the L. caelatum of Curtis's catalogue may be this species. 

 Morgan . 



Not seen by writer. 



(Plate CLXIII.) 



C. craniifor'mis Schw. cranion, a skull. Peridium very large, ob- 



ovoid or turbinate, depressed above, 

 the base thick and stout, with a cord- 

 like root. Cortex a smooth continu- 

 ous layer, very thin and fragile, easily 

 peeling off, pallid or grayish, some- 

 times with a reddish tinge, often be- 

 coming folded in areas; the inner 

 peridium thin, ochraceous to bright 

 brown, velvety, extremely fragile, 

 after maturity the upper part break- 

 ing up into fragments and falling 

 away. Subgleba occupying about 

 one-half of the peridium, cup-shaped 

 above and a long time persistent; 

 mass of spores and capillitium green- 

 ish-yellow then ochraceous or dirty 

 olivaceous; the threads very long, 



about as thick as the spores, branched. Spores globose, even, 3 3-5/* in 



diameter, with a minute pedicel. 



Growing on the ground in woods. Peridium commonly 3-6 in. in 



586 



CALVATIA CRANIIFORMIS. 

 (After Morgan.) 



